The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-11-26

(Philbrook & Dean, 1872 Dearborn st. } Is q
paper bound volume of 4s0 pages just re-
ceived. II purports to be "a discussion OF
the cause, character and operations OF the
Creator" The author says, p. 324, "all the
book of value In print are the writings of
spirits, and there never was a particle of
Information given the people by person
on earth who did not get his Information
from epirit We intend by the word in
formation new fact or idea" VoltaiIe, he
says "was the instrument of Shakespeare In
all the work performed by the person after
his visit TO England "Liebnitz, Des-
cartes, Copernicus, Gallileo, Kepler, New.
ton, Huyghens, &C., &c, **~ were all the
instrument of spirit teacher" We as
sumo therefore that this work is the dicta
ton of spirit; and therefore hardly within
the Jurisdiction OF an earthly critic. As
may be anticipated under the circumstan.
ces, there are some startling statements, as
for example. "Only mere current OF cleo
tricity was the origin Of God" Electricity
Is therefore the first cause" philosophers
have been hunting so long. 1.-THE intelli
gence of person or any animal is barely
the Intelligence of current of so-called
electricity on the surface of the BRAIN" &c.
The ideas certainly are novel. They will
hardly, however, commend themselves to
the views of the orthodox. Still they may
be curious reading as the production OF
spirit, or putting into form one of the many
phases of splritualism.
The forthcoming Christmas Number of
Harpers Magazine will be the most
princely defendant Of It's royal line, with
the noble blood of many kings of thought
throbbing its arteries, and richly decked
in sumptuous attire of Illustrations. In
point of attractive reading and luxurious
drawings 1t takes the palm even from the
previous holiday numbers of "The Giant
of the Monthlies." 1t has no continued
stories but. lots of choice short ones. From
an artistic point of view, itpromises to sur
pass all the four hundred and fifty pre-
vious issues. 1t 'abounds in magnificent
illustrations drawn by Abbey, Dielman,
Reinhart, Frost, Gaul Zogbaum,' and Bar
nard, and engraved by Mccain, Altman,
Anderson, Heard, Stewart, Varley, Davis,
Lindsay, French Bernstrom, Closson and
others The amusing points are delight
fully sketched by W. H. Hyde and G, J,
Taylor.
With partisanship and side-issues elimi-
mated, what are the precise points involved
in the Fisheries Question? DR.. Freeman
Snow, Instructor of International Law at
Harvard College, has written a concise re-
view of the controversy, stating the case of
each side and explaining the bearings on
every point at issue, of the treaties and Of
international law. The paper Is explana:
tory, not controversial Still DR.. Snow
briefly indicates how, in his judgment,
treaty of reciprocity could be framed that
should settle the difficulty to the advantage
both of Canada and of the United States.
This review will appear in the Forum for !
December.
The Popular Science Monthly for Decem-
Der will contain articles by Prof. Huxley,
Grant Allen, and the Duke of Argyll; and
an Interesting bit of autobiography, en-
titled, THE Boyhood of'Darwin," from the
"Life and Letters" of the
great naturalist. 1t will also contain dis
cussion on recommendation, bimetallism,
and trimetallism, by the Hon. David A.
Wells, under the title of Changes in the
Relative Values of the Precious Metals"